By Kent Gray
They say its often better to be lucky than good in golf and Richard P. Turner certainly can’t argue with that.

The Global Pipeline Supplies Director is still buzzing after winning a trip to September’s Ryder Cup in Paris at the Dubai Eye Executive Golf Day.

When the Jebel Ali member insists there “wasn’t much skill involved” he’s not kidding – the sensational prize, including flights to France and hospitality on the Thursday of the biennial matches between Europe and Team USA, was won in a lucky draw after play on Earth at Jumeriah Golf Estates.

“It’s not bad for putting your business card in a box is it,” Turner said.

“I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s a great prize.”

Turner should know – he’s spectated at four Ryder Cups previously, three at the Belfry in England and at Gleneagles in Scotland when Europe won the 40th matches 16.5-11.5 in 2014. 

The 16-handicapper is also fortunate enough to have played Le Golf National, the venue for this year’s 42nd matches between Jim Furyk’s Team USA and Thomas Bjorn’s  Europeans.

“We played Le Golf National last September. It’s going to be a great spectator course. There are a lot of big valleys where you’ll be able to get up on the high side and see the action.”

Given the strength of Furyk’s side and the resurgent form of the Europeans, many are predicting the September 28-30 showdown in the south-west suburb of  Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines could be the best yet. Turner isn’t so sure.

“I’m looking forward to it but Gleneagles, that’s going to hard to beat.”

While Turner’s normally steady driving was a little off-key on Earth, his team still managed a highly respectable 95 points in the shambles format where the best two stableford scores from each quartet counted on each hole.

But it wasn’t close to being in the money with Paul McElroy, Suneel Aggarwal,  Christo Daniels and Jon Vail (pictured below) coming first with 107 points – a super impressive 5.9 average per hole.

Nick Grande, Ian D’Arcy, Nicolas Bruylants and Gareth Mordey were second on 103 points with Dubai Eye’s own Mohamed Suleman captaining Ajay Dasani, Paul Dalgleish and Shabir Yakub to third, a further two points adrift.

John Walsh won the longest drive prize in the 9th, David Wonfor’s card came out lucky of the 14 players in a beat the pro competition while Colin Jones (17th) and Stuart Haslam won the nearest the pin prizess, Haslam with a shot on the 4th that rested within an inch of the cup. 

The post Dream Ryder Cup prize for corporate day golfer who didn’t play the ‘greatest’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.